Friday July 7th
We were called soon after 6 & told that the Packet would sail in an hour & that a Messenger had been sent to Castle Hall for Mr Woods. Our luggage having been previously searched by a custom house Officer was sent on board last night & therefore as soon as we had breakfasted we were ready {MS page 2} but we were sadly disappointed by the non-arrival of Woods for whom we waited near an hour. At length the Captain of the Packet declared he could wait no longer, & as our luggage was on board we were reluctantly obliged to embark without him. About half an hour [after] we had got under weigh we saw a Boat with six Oars & crowding Sail to overtake us. Capt. Jankins civilly laid to till the Boat came up & then Woods to our no small satisfaction jumped on board.
Our sail down Milford Haven was very fine, & after we had passed St Anns head the numerous small Islands among which we sailed presented some of the wildest rocky cliffs I ever saw, & an immense number of Shags & Guillimots which inhabit them flew around us. We chatted & laughed very merrily on Deck with 4 Irish Gentlemen who were our fellow Passengers till about Noon when it began to rain hard & we were driven into the Cabin. I then became so Seasick that I went to Bed and remained there till the Steward woke me up with the pleasant tidings that we had arrived in Waterford River. It was then 1/2 past 11 & {MS page 3} at 12 we were landed at Cheek Point.
After a good deal of clamorous rapping we gained admittance to the Inn which is large & good looking without, but we found the inside so little inviting by either sight or smell that Woods's appetite failed him & he went to Bed. Leach & I were too hungry to mind trifles, & we joined two of our fellow Passengers in making a hearty Meal, but I could not help being reminded of the following Story which I heard just before I left Swansea. A Gentleman travelling in this Country whilst his Dinner was preparing at a small Inn saw a Child with a dreadfully ulcerated & scald head. Disgusted at the sight he asked her why she didn't wear a Cap. ‘And to be sure’, answered the Child ‘isn't my Mother boiling your pudding in it’.
Our Luggage was all taken & locked up by the Custom house Officers, who told us that it could not be searched or restored till next morning. I begged them to give me a small Leather case, in which I keep my Dressing things & a few other Articles. They were excessively polite a la mode d'Irelande, & begged to know its contents which I told them & among {MS page 4} other things mentioned a pair of Shoes. They asked me if they were new (in which case I find they would have been seizable) & I gave them my word they were half worn out. ‘Och’, says the fellow, ‘I am perfectly satisfied with your word of honor, but I shall be greatly obliged if